Winemaker Notes
Deep and inky, with alluring flavors of blackberry compote, cigar box and herbes de Provence. Subtle hints of cocoa and violets blend into well-balanced tannins with a velvety and seductive finish.
Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a complex expression, thanks in part to the 11% Cabernet Franc. Aromas of roasted plum, chocolate, mahogany and black olive recall a wooden booth in a classic bar. The palate hits with acid and then a tannic bite, offering strawberry, chai and mace flavors that are lively while rich. Tannins cling on for an extended finish, offering licorice spice to say goodbye.
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Vinous
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Blackletter is rich, revealing a dark blend of plum sauce and grilled herbs offset by white pepper and hints of camphor. It displays silky textures and ripe red and black currant fruit that swirls across a tactile core of minerals and savory spice tones. Sweet tannins linger along with a dusting of cocoa as this tapers off long and staining, displaying an undeniable balance.
As Paso Robles, California has soared in number of wineries and gained in popularity, Cabernet Sauvignon has firmly taken root as the region’s number one varietal. Alone, it accounts for just over 40% of plantings and is grown throughout both the western and eastern sides of the appellation. Though viticulture here dates back to the 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t emerge as a significant grape here until the 1970’s. But since then it has definitely made up for lost time.
Legendary winemaker and consultant Andre Tchelistcheff first recognized Paso’s potential with Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960’s. The calcareous soil and dramatic diurnal temperature changes of Paso’s westside particularly intrigued him. Today modern winemaking techniques and focused experimentation with various clones, rootstocks and vineyard strategies optimize the region's ideal combination of soil and climate to deliver the best fruit possible.
The results are evident in the glass. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon can be mesmerizing, with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, graphite, toasty oak, vanilla and spice. The structure, balance and unbridled opulence of these wines impress from first sip to last. Not surprisingly, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons have steadily grown in reputation, not just in the U.S., but around the world.